§ Mr. SproatTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress he has made in achieving the target of a reduction of 2.5 per cent. in his Department's running costs for the present financial year, in the first half of this financial year; and what specifically has been saved, by what means and in what areas of his responsibility.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonData for the current financial year are not yet available. In the financial year to 31 March 1992, however, the Department made efficiency improvements to a value of £234 million against a target of £192 million. The outturn in each of the Department's main management areas and by means of achievement was as follows:
Area Target £ million Performance £ million +/-£ million Navy 45.0 62.2 +17.2 Army 66.0 56.0 -10.0 Air Force 51.0 61.9 +10.9 PE 10.8 30.7 +19.9 Centre 19.1 23.1 +4.0 Total 191.9 233.9 +42.0
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Means of Achievement As percentage of Total Organisational Changes 24 Contractorisation 5 Changes in Manpower Mix 6 Rationalisation 14 Relocation to lower cost areas 1 Utilities and Energy 1 ADP and IT 1 Asset Management 18 Design/Engineering 1 Purchase Improvements 3
Means of Achievement As percentage of Total Capacity Management 25 Entrepreneurial Activity 1 This related not only to running costs but to Defence expenditure generally, apart from pensions and capital equipment.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the United Kingdom troops in Bosnia have clothing to protect them from the consequences of chemical and biological weapons.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonAll United Kingdom troops deployed in Bosnia have NBC respirators and protective suits, which give protection against normal chemical weapon agents. They also have detection equipment and wind indicators.